London, UK - Printers visiting North Print & Pack 2013 from 14th - 16th May in Harrogate will benefit from an extensive free programme of educational content, with informative talks, panel discussions, case studies and networking events on the agenda. Each session has been devised to provide printers with the tools and ideas they need to successfully embrace changes and opportunities in the market, with top industry brands including Tesco and Twinings amongst the confirmed presenters and panellists.

The Knowledge Centre comprises three distinct theatres on the show floor, each addressing a specific theme:

*       Theatre 1: The New Printing Landscape (focussed on commercial print)
*       Theatre 2: Thinking Outside the Box (focussed on packaging)
*       Theatre 3: Printers Profit Zone

Between them, printers can build their own programme from over 30 informative and thought-provoking sessions across all three days of the event, while still allowing plenty of time to explore the technologies and services being demonstrated on the show floor.

Commercial printers with a focus on promotional print will find what they are looking for in Theatre 1, where the programme is designed specifically to address the important issues affecting them.  In a series of themed sessions under the heading The New Printing Landscape, speakers will advise and guide visitors on the latest trends and cross media developments, with a focus on business improvement.

Tony Hodgson of PODi and Communisis MD Gurdev Singh will lead the first day's programme looking at How Digital Print is Revolutionising Consumer Behaviour, followed by a panel of print and packaging heavyweights representing major industry associations and suppliers, who will steer visitors through the issues around securing finance and support to enable their business.

As North Print & Pack 2013 visitors would expect, cross media is also high on the educational agenda. On Day 1, Peter Lancaster of Documobi will cover the Impact of New Technologies on the Print Industry.  That theme will continue on Day 2 with a moderated panel session on How Cross Media Is Making Print More Powerful In A Mobile World, followed by an exploration of Print's Role in Multichannel Campaigns through a case study from retail giant Tesco.

A panel of expert speakers will share their thoughts on Combining Print with Video, QR codes and Social Media, while printers considering the role of social media in their interaction with customers will benefit from a dedicated session on this topic.

Premium tea brand Twinings will share their perspectives on the Evolving Relationship Between Printers, Agencies and Their Brands, a topic also touched on when Jacky Hobson of Up Marketing takes printers through the Journey to Becoming a Marketing Services Provider. Ricoh's Tim Carter will pull these ideas together with some real-world examples of printers Going Beyond Print to Deliver Value Added Services.

Other sessions will explore Print's ROI in a Multi Channel Marketing Mix, while vendors including Landa, Xeikon, EFI, Goss - REMOVE and Novalia Printed Electronics will help printers make sense of developments and opportunities in digital print, web-to-print, print for packaging, nano printing and printed electronics.

Theatre 2 - The Packaging Theatre - offers a programme under the heading 'Thinking Outside the Box', tailored towards packaging converters and SME printers interested in packaging.  More information is available from www.printandpack.co.uk

Theatre 3 houses the Printers' Profit Zone, a business-building workshop hosted by well-known advisor Nick Devine, The Print Coach. Nick is renowned for his straight-talking approach to helping printers to boost their sales, increase their profit margins and grow their print business in competitive markets.

Sales Manager for North Print & Pack 2013 Mary Buck comments: "Rapid changes in technology set against a difficult economic backdrop mean that UK printers need to be ahead of the game more than ever.  It's a difficult juggling act, for SME printers in particular, trying to manage all the day-to-day concerns of the business, satisfy customers and plan financially for major investments, all while keeping pace with new print technologies and understanding what customers expect from print in today's multichannel world. That's a tall order, but we've set out to help printers quickly grasp the fundamental issues over the three days of North Print & Pack 2013.  A few hours spent in The Knowledge Centre should boost printers' confidence, and help them devise practical plans for their individual success."

Full programme details and session times are available from the North Print & Pack 2013 website at www.printandpack.co.uk